Alun Jones

The Homeless Man - Poem by Alun Jones

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I reluctantly wake up to another bleary, dreary dayTo see the marks from those broken shards of glassThe anxiety, stress and anger, those desperate cries for helpWrists throbbing, trails of blood, but still on this mortal earthShouting, crying at the top of my voice in my headThose voices and screams, why why, but still left unheard A hopeless situation in a hopeless uncaring worldWhy do I carry on, I do not knowFor I am the homeless man

As I walk and wait for the daily metro as the shops begin to openLooking on as shutters go up, coffees are pouredThose enticing aromas that I can ill affordLost in the wilderness, trying to work things outConfused, not understanding, just want to hide myself awayThose black clouds that are looming heavily above meTo tired to care anymore, to tired to walk, to tired to careFor I am the homeless man

I am the strange man people look at whilst sneering, jeeringWalking down the road getting on with their livesThe business men that carry on with their shallow existence Unaware and unwilling to careTheir clockwork lives telling them to carry on Stepping over you, shouting abuse whilst you just sit thereThe mothers and children merrily off to schoolComplaining because you’re in the wayWhy, because I am the homeless man

I wave my hand out, only wanting some small change, begging to liveThinking whether I will I eat today, but gone without now for so longDo I even care whether I die or live in the uncaring worldThe tall buildings that are drawing me nearLooking from the rooftops above, just one more step and it will all end Unsure of what is stopping me taking that last plungeIs there still a glimmer of hope, a strand from a rope to hold on tooFor I am the homeless man

I am the man with hidden disabilitiesNo sticks or wheels to burden or for people to seeBut the one in my head, the other person I hate the mostThe resentment and anger I have for myselfFor the person I have always long to be Now the paved streets have turned to doors and bars The sneers and jibes, anxiety and paranoiaWhat will the future hold for me, we will have to seeFor I am the homeless man

So next time you walk through your town or city On your way to school, work or leisureAnd maybe you will come across a homeless man, woman or child But do not walk past or shun awayA homeless person they may be, but humans they are tooSpare a kind thought, a handshake, or some small changeBecause through some misfortuneYou too could also be that homeless person